The Path to an Accord on Immigration

Sheldon G. Adelson, Warren E. Buffett and Bill Gates send a timely and important message to Congress to regulate the flow of immigrants coming to the United States. They highlight the value to the United States that would come from revising two current policies to permit more liberal granting of visas and citizenship to graduates of American universities and people bringing with them substantial money to invest here.

Both are important. But the history of immigration to this country is overwhelmingly a saga of poor and even destitute people who started at the bottom. They are not college graduates or investors, and few come with the sense of entitlement that comes with a degree or money. They are every bit as important to the American construction and agriculture industries as foreign graduates are to the tech industry.

Construction and farm work are historically where immigrants begin, where they are needed now and where the jobs are less attractive. Perhaps it’s too much to expect three very wealthy men to identify with people and businesses that are not part of today’s tech and investor classes.

THOMAS WICKHAM Cutchogue, N.Y., July 14, 2014

To the Editor:

“Break the Immigration Impasse” is to be applauded. This well-reasoned and collaborative article should serve as a template for positions on immigration reform to be included in the platforms of the Republican and Democratic Parties.

Despite the stalemate currently caused by Speaker John A. Boehner’s refusal to allow a middle-ground immigration bill to reach the floor of the House, the tide is turning, as shown by the sentiments reflected in this article. If only the great majority of moderates on this issue could get together, as these three writers have, we could get this thorny issue on its way to resolution.

RICHARD D. GREENFIELD New York, July 11, 2014

To the Editor:

Sheldon G. Adelson, Warren E. Buffett and Bill Gates plead with Congress to produce a consensual, humane immigration bill and policy changes that would also enhance our economy. By citing the desirable “talented graduate” and “immigrant investor” reforms and repeatedly stressing the primacy of American self-interest, these three titans of capitalism are actually promoting a modern form of colonialism.

Aggressively granting visas to American-educated legal immigrants with graduate degrees in science, technology, engineering or mathematics will drain their countries of able, productive, innovative members. Rewarding wealthy foreigners with American citizenship in return for capital investment diminishes the money available for financing development in their home nations.

Historically, colonial powers scoured physical resources from less developed countries. We should not now bleed away their intellectual and financial resources.

PHILIP LITTMAN TRISH LITTMAN New York, July 13, 2014

Mr. Littman, a retired doctor, served in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia from 1962-1964. Ms. Littman is a retired sociologist.

To the Editor:

I am aware of the basic political differences between the writers of the Op-Ed article. In it, they claim that despite their differences, they could come to an agreement on the language of an immigration reform bill. I wish to challenge them to do so, and then present this draft legislation to the do-nothing Congress. If we can’t live with a bill drafted by these three, then I despair for our democratic system.

DANE FABER Sausalito, Calif., July 11, 2014

To the Editor:

“Break the Immigration Impasse” is tone deaf to the actual illegal immigration crisis taking place on our southern border. Thankfully, public policy decisions remain the domain of policy makers and are not left to chief executives.

Forget the 11 million illegal immigrants already in residence; ignore the recent influx of more than 52,000 children just these past eight months; disregard our porous border.

No, the writers are not much concerned about these little details; they simply want Congress to pass a new immigration law that keeps “talented” graduates in the United States and opens up the EB-5 “immigrant investor program.” My trust in government is nearly gone; now my faith in the wisdom of corporate America is starting to crumble.

PAUL RANKIN Rockville, Md., July 11, 2014

A version of this article appears in print on , on Page A24 of the New York edition with the headline: The Path to an Accord on Immigration. Order Reprints | Today’s Paper | Subscribe